McCain Looks Ahead

60 Minutes' Scott Pelley Interviews The Presumptive GOP Presidential Candidate

(CBS)  Foreign policy is McCain's specialty, but at least for now most voters say they worry about the economy.

"Back in 1992, Bill Clinton had a sign hanging in his campaign war room, a pretty famous sign. Do you recall what it said?" Pelley asked.

"It's the economy, stupid. Yes," McCain replied.

"Everywhere we went in Texas with you it was about the war and foreign policy and I wondered in those town hall meetings if you had an understanding of how concerned people are about the economy, about whether they can keep their homes, about whether they can keep their jobs?" Pelley asked.

"Look, these are tough times. These are very tough times," McCain said.

Asked how he would characterize the mortgage mess, McCain said, "I think it’s a disaster, but let me hasten to add, Scott, I think the fundamentals of our economy are still strong."

"What do you do for the person who just saw gasoline go from three and a quarter to three fifty on its way to $4?" Pelley asked.

"I would love to tell you that I have an immediate answer for that. And I don't. The only way we are going to fix it is to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. We've got to have a crash program, a all out effort," McCain said. "But, I can't give you straight talk and tell you that tomorrow I can change the price of a gallon of gas."

On taxes, McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts originally; now he wants to make them permanent. But he says his own party has let spending go wildly out of control.

"Senator Clinton says that providing universal healthcare is quote 'a moral responsibility.' Do you agree?" Pelley asked.

"Well, I think that's one of the big differences we have about the role of government. If you think that the government should mandate anything to the American people than besides a safety net, and I don't view it as a safety net. I view Medicare and Medicaid as a safety net," McCain said. "But to mandate that all Americans are required to do something then that's just not within the fundamental philosophy that I have about the role of government in America."

Instead of government insurance, McCain proposes a $5,000 tax credit so families can buy insurance of their own.

On immigration, he says that the borders should be secured first but, despite criticism from conservatives, he told 60 Minutes this about illegal immigrants: "If they complied with some very stringent and rigid requirements, they could find themselves on a path to citizenship."

On Capitol Hill he gets credit for reaching out to Democrats on big issues like immigration and campaign finance reform. But his fellow politicians are critical of his high minded condemnation of money in politics.

"You point your finger at other senators and claim that there is a culture of corruption on Capitol Hill. But you take money from lobbyists who have business before your committee as other senators do. So, how is it that you call the system corrupt?" Pelley asked.

"Well, one of the reasons why I call the system corrupt is because we have members of Congress who are in jail, who are former members of Congress. But it’s not the individuals, it's the system we have today. I believe that I serve with honorable men and women. And I believe that the people who bring their case to government, the overwhelming majority of them are honorable people," McCain said.

"The lobbyists?" Pelley asked.

"Retirees have a lobbyist. Firemen have a lobbyist. Your business has a lot of lobbyists," McCain said.

McCain claims he’s never done a favor for money. He believes he’s being held to a higher standard because of his criticism.

[kailumego1]

If I didn''''t know the consensus of white America, I learned it last night, when an elderly white female, in my African History class, politely, in a firm but soft spoken voice reminded me, she said this country will never see a black president, and it mattered little of his/her qualifications, because the largest voter constituency, which happens to be those 45-above will never vote a black into office.

She went on to say Obama''''s winning in the primaries says nothing, when the actual vote to elect a president comes into play, of which a majority of whites will "NEVER" cast that vote for him.

Obama has a strong following among 18-35 year whites, but his support sharply declines among the 45 plus generation, they''''re the one''''s which make up the majority of the vote, accordingly.

A fellow student, a white male, second that emotion, or sentiment, as he stated this is the consensus of white Americans, and although it appears Obama has the Democratic lead, McCain is a "shoe-win".

So, if this is any indication of the "collective consciousnesses" of white America, Obama, according to Bill Clinton, is living in a "fairytale", because white Americans will "never" elect him.

Maybe that''''s why Hilary has fought a relentless campaign against him, because she''''s only echoing the sentiments of white America.

[jbkaufmann]

Mr. McCain''s chances are directly proportional to the demos'' odds of *** up their own possibilities. At least Mr. Spitzer is NOT a serial rapist. Frankly, I believe Juanita Broderick and the Arkansas beauty queen who spoke of her ordeal in the back of that limo, not to mention Kathleen Willey. Why doesn''t the media describe the various types of women and familial enablers who find it in their own interests to let these guys keep offending. Anybody remember Harry Reasoner''s 60M segment about the high school girl killed by the new hire janitor who confessed to his lady-friend: "Today I killed a girl at achool!"(?) But she didn''t reveal the confession until yrs later when "enabling" was not part of her gig. Spitzer is a far cry from the kinds of offenses we all know so much about. So that''s why we can''t count McCain out, just yet.

[fettkonserv]

Looking ahead for Alzheimer''s Treatment.

[jesus_rose4u]

McCain Looks Ahead, Yes, through Christ coming into your life a relationship is established between you and God! This way McCain can look ahead!

[conviction_]

McCain Looks Ahead? Would self be conquered?

[self_vs_god]

McCain Looks Ahead
If He is elected President I hope he really asks God for direction in His life for the lives of Americans? This would be looking ahead! God can do this personally for him or anyone in fact if they acknowledge their self to God. And then ask Jesus into their lives to have victory over self.

[fwbromberg]

I cannot decide which is more appalling: Is it Senator McCain%u2019s hypocrisy at claiming that water-boarding is torture after his vote on February 13 to continue to allow so-called %u201Cenhanced interrogation techniques%u201D (a euphemism for torture) to be used by the CIA? Or is it Scott Pelley%u2019s lack of journalistic integrity or his lack of knowledge that allowed for a discussion of this issue without even a mention of McCain%u2019s February 13 vote? Torture is immoral and leads to false statements and confessions. Its use damages our credibility around the world, puts our servicemen and women in jeopardy, and is in direct contrast to the values and ideals of our democracy.

NOT IN MY NAME!
Fran Bromberg

[jgug1]

THIS is journalism? I think not. Mr. Pelley comes accross as an Apparatchik of Senator McCain. Mr. Pelley doesn''t trouble himself to ask St. McCain why he voted against a bill that would have made torture illegal last month. Then, McCain asserts that America is a "right of center nation," and Pelley doesn''t trouble himself to question that, either. Never mind that a Pew Poll in February showed Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans in EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY except one. How much does McCain pay you for that, Mr. Pelley?

[j-whitman]

user168,,,, Maybe you should think about changing your screen name to abuser168 or start listing to the obvious falseness in McCain''s speeches.... Then think about the GOP''s false Contract For America

[nolalou]

"The Clintons will steal the Nomination away from Obamma thru secret Delegates ..." Posted by hillaryin08

They are not ''secret delegates'', their names are known, many are party activists or elected officials. The Clinton''s didn''t sneak them in the back door, they have had so called ''super delegates'' since the 1960''s! The purpose was to have some elected delegates pledged to vote as their states voted, and about 20 percent who are allowed to vote their conscience. The republican party has something similar, except they call them ''unpledged delegates'' instead of ''super delegates''. It is Obama trying to change the rules, saying Super Delegates should be obligated to vote for whoever has the most votes or elected delegates, when party rules clearly state that is not the case! Besides, if Obama has his way, would Senator Kennedy, who endorsed Obama, be forced to vote for Hillary at the convention, since she won the Massachusetts Primary?

[user168-2009]

Hillary thinks if your hopes are not for her to win, then they are "false hopes". She is telling the people Obama''s hope to unite the country is "false hope".

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, This article is about McCain''s Magic Mushroom Visions --
--- Baghdad''s far from secure, Iraq''s far from saying there is any degree of real progress, our national security is damaged severly, no real progress has been made in this War on Terror, & & our economy is far from what McCain says.

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, I''m waiting to see how it plays out, but I don''t see it hurting a democrat landslide in November. --- Try not spinning it into something it''s not

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, Oh, your talking about Michigan & Florida.... I''ll agree that''s become a clustref_ck.

[hillaryin08]

The Democrat Party Bosses are now saying now that the elected delegates dont count, and the Super Delagates do. God I''m glad that im not in that party.

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, What part of it is stealing ??

[hillaryin08]

Your folks with your constant war against American Liberals --- McCain is & always has been a Conservative Liberal


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Posted by j-whitman at 02:33 PM : Mar 10, 2008

So what does this have to do with a fellow Democrat stealing and election away from another? And you with the rest of the libs giving them a pass on it?

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, Hypocracy ??? No, this is hyprocracy :

Your folks with your constant war against American Liberals --- McCain is & always has been a Conservative Liberal

[hillaryin08]

Obamma is leading in Elected Pledged Delegates

Obamma is leading in the Popular Vote

Obamma has won the most States

The Clintons will steal the Nomination away from Obamma thru secret Delegates and the Libs will give them a pass and not show an inch of outrage over it.

[hillaryin08]

hillaryin08,,,, I believe here on this planet we call it the election process not stealing,, You know, something totally alien to the GOP, democracy


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Posted by j-whitman at 02:27 PM : Mar 10, 2008

No, but you and the rest of the Libs will not show an inch of outrage when the Clintons steal the election from Obamma. Its called Hypocracy.